Locomotive-engine stoker mechanism



Feb. 13,1923.

W. T. HANNA LOQOMOTIVE ENGINE STOKER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 1 1915 4 sheets-sheet l W. T. HANNA LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE STOKER MECHANISM Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,275

Filed Sept. 15, 1915 4 sheets-sheet 2 8 mum H301 W. T. HANNA Feb. 13, 1192.3.

LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE STOKER MECHANISM Filed Sept.

4 sheets-sheet 5 Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,275- W. T. HANNA LOCOMOTIVEI ENGINE STOKER MECHANISM 9 Fi'led Sepb. 15. 1913 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented at. 1a, was.

WILLIAM '1. HANNA, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

LOC OMOTIVE-ENGINE STOKEB MECHANISM.

Application fil'ed September 15, 1913. Serial No. 789,866.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVILLIAM T. HANNA, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locomotive-Engine Stoker Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in furnace stokers, and is particularly concerned with a construction of ,devices of this character which is intended primarily, though not exclusively, for use With a fire box of a locomotive engine. It is to be understood, however, that in many of its features it is universally applicable to furnaces of all descriptions, whether stationaryor otherwise.

The object of the invention is'to provide a stoker mechanism which preferably feeds the fire box through the ordinary fire door, though it will be clear from the following descr ption that it may be inserted through any other properly located aperture in the fire box. 'lVhen entering the fire door, however, it is the purpose toprovide for quick removal of a. part or all of the stoker mechanism from the furnace so thatshould the stoker break down or operate defectively, or if for any reason it is desired to dispense with the use of the stoker, the same may be quickly removed and the fire door opening restored to normal condition for hand firing with the fire door in proper position.

A further object of the invention is to make it possible to remove a portion of the stoker mechanism from the fire door or other opening into the fire box so that should 'occasion require the fire may be readily observed and, if necessary, the hook may be used to break up banked or clinkered fuel though with the particular form of stoker forming the subject matter of this casesuch banking or (-linkermg rarely occurs,;if ever.

This stoker mechanism broadly comprises a conveyer mechanism for conveying the fuel from a source of supply to the fuel distributing means of the stokerproper, but this con veyer mechanism and the mechanism for feeding the fuel from the hopper to the conveyer forms the subject matter" of my copendin application Serial No. 787,226, filed on the 28th day of August, 1913, Patent No. 1,239,101, granted September 1, 1917. Reference to this may be had for a full demechanism within the scription of the fuel hopper and conveying mechanism. Vhen the stoker is employed with a locomotive furnace it is particularly desirable that it take up the least possible room in the engine cab, and in connection with thelocomotive engine it is especially important that it be possible to dispense quickly with the stoker mechanism and get it entirely out of the way in case of defective operation so that the locomotive may behand fired without any delay in running, or loss of steam pressure due to the act of removing the stoker mechanism. The fuel feeding and distributing mechanism in its broader aspects is of the type illustrated in my Patent No. 990,550 granted the 25th of April, 1911, but the construction constituting the present invention involves several important modifications in the manner of mounting and manipulating said mechanism;

In the accompanying. drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the stoker mechanism applied to a locomotive furnace, the cab and tender of the locomotive being indicated in outline; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the stoker mechanism similar to Fig. 1; Figs. 3', 4; and Sam views partly in section of details of that portion of the conveyer mechanism leading directly to the distributor; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View; Fig. 7 is an elevation of parts shown in Fig. 6 viewed from the left; Fig. 8 is a face view of the furnace or foundation plate carrying .the stoker mechanism; Fig. 9 is alongitudinal section of said plate on the .line 9-9 Fig. 8; .Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of the swinging door ring, which normally supports the art of the stoker fire door opening; Fig. 11 comprises views in sectionand plan, respectively, of the latch connection between the distributing means and their operating .inechanism.

. In the embodiment of the invention herein selected for illustration 1 indicates the fire box of thelocomotive having the fire door opening 2. The relative position of the stoker and conveyer mechanism is indicated by the fragmentary outline 3 of the locomotive cab and of the tender 41. On the rear of the furnace is secured a foundation plate 5 comprising a partial ring portion 6, Fig. 8, which is secured to the back plate of the furnace by means of bolts 7, 7 passing through the slots 8, 8, of said foundation plate, whereby said plate may be adjusted in exact alignment with the fire door opening and in position to properly locate the stoker mechanism therein. .Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that said foundation plate has hinged to'or journaled thereon at 9 a blast feed apparatus 10 comprising a chamber 11 communieating with nozzles 12 projecting from the inner end of the feed chamber 11, and a second chamber 13' having ports 14 which are located at a slightly lower level than the nozzles 12 and are staggered with relation thereto. The blast chamber 11 is connected to a source of steam, such as the-locomotive boiler, by means of a passage 15 cored in the shank 16 of the blast feed member, while the lower blast feed chamber 13 is similarly connected 'by a passage 17 in said shank. The passages 16 and 17 lead out through the trunnions 19 and 20. respectively, by which the blast feed member is hinged or journaled on the foundation plate. 6, and by means of pipes 21 and 22, respectively, these trunnions are connected with the boiler. Slidably mounted-in this blast feed mem her is an adjustable distributing plate 23 which may be, and preferably is, of substantially the same structure as described in my Patent No. 979,849 granted on the 27th day of December 1910. This distributing plate lies directly beneath the blast ports 12 and 14 and by means of a handle 24 it may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly to control the deposit of the fuel within the fire box. For example, when drawn back to the position indicated in Fig. 6. more coal will be deposited at the front of the fire box than will be the case when the distributing plate is forced inwardly whereby it directs more of the fuel to the rear of the fire box. Thus the member 10 constitutes a combined blast feed and distributing plate element, and immediately beneath the distributing plate is a filler piece 25 which serves to fill in or closeup the lower portion of the fire door opening between the walls 26, Fig. 8, of the opening 27 in the foundation plate. From an inspection of Figs. 2 and 6 it will be seen that the combined blast feed and distributing plate member 10 occupies a little more than onethird of the fire door opening.

Immediately above the blast chamber 11 is located the combined feed and distributing member of the stoker. This comprises a casting having a ring member 26 which fits over or covers the remainder of the fire door opening above the blast feed and distributing member 10'. This ring member 26 does not contact directly with the foundation plate 5 but means are provided for the mounting-of this combined feed and distributing member by which it may be swung out of the way of the fire door opening when it is desired to observe the condition of the fire or to use the hood onthe same, as required.

To this end the foundation plate 5 is pro vided with hinged lugs 28, 28, upon which is hinged a door ring 29 by means of lugs 30. This ring when in place may be latched to the foundation plate in any desired way, as by the latch 31. The lower side of this door ring overlies the blast feed and distributing member as shown inthe sectional View, Fig. '6, when the latter has been turned up into' operative position as there shown, so that said ring serves as a means for locking this blast feed and distributing member in place. The feed chute and distributing member I which occupies substantially the upper twothirds of the fire door opening, comprises a casting 32 forming a closure for the portion of the door opening occupied thereby, and having cast therewith a feed chute section 33 and a ridge shaped feed and distributing surface 34, Fig. 7, over the opposite sides of which the distributing wings 35, 35, are adapted to oscillate; The casting 32 is provided with recesses, upon either side, the external surfaces-of which are illustrated at 36-'t'o accommodate these distributing wings. The distributing wings are provided with shafts or spindles 37 and 37 by which they may be operated in the manner hereinafter described. The feed chute and distributing casting 32 may be locked in position on the door ring 29 by means of latches 32, 32 operated by the external handles 32 32 which are pivoted at 32 to the spindles of the latches so that said handles may be turned down out of the way whennot in use. By means of these latches therefore the casting or feed head 32 may ordinarily be swung in unison with or as a part of the door ring 29 so that in case it is necessary to observe the fire or use the hook on it, these parts may be swung to one side, leaving the door W opening free with the exceptionof the comparatively small portion thereof occupied by the blast feed and distributing head at thelower part of the door opening. The short shafts or spindles 37 through which the feed wings 35 are operated are each provided with a latch head 38 illustrated in' detail' in Fig. 11. The latch head 38 is provided with a spring latch 39 housed in the handle 40. The latch 39 is adapted to en gage a corresponding latch head 41 on the short shaft or spindle 42 journaled in a bearing 43 and by universal joint, 44, Fig.

2, is connected through a rod 45 to one arm 46 of a bell cranklever, theother arm 47 of which is connected by a rod 48 to the arm 49 'of a second bellcrank lever fixed to an seat, and said bell crank lever 49 is provided with a handle 52 whereby the range of movement of the corresponding distributing wing 35 may be varied, as fully described in my Patent No. 991,614 granted on the 9th day of May, 1911. The operative connections corable source of power, as for example, the conveyer operating mechanism hereinafter described. This operating mechanism specifically, however, is not of the essence of the present invention and therefore need not be described at length.

,W'hen it is desired to observe the fire for any purpose the spindle 37 of the feed wings 35 may be disengaged from the operating spindles 42, 42', by means of the latches 39, whereupon the door ring 29 together with the feed distributing head 32 may be swung back on the hinges of the door ring out of the way ofthe fire door opening, leaving an ample opening for observation of the fire and for hooking, etc.

It may sometimes become desirable or necessary to clear away the stoker mechanism entirely from the fire door opening in order to permit hand firing, if, for example, the stoker mechanism should happen to break down or be thrown out of commission in any.

way. Under such circumstances delays might be incurred in the running of fast trains, such as passenger trains and fast freights. In such cases it is necessary that the engine be put in condition for hand firing in the shortest possible time. Under such circumstances I provide means for clearing away both the feed distributing head 32 and the blast feed distributing mechanism from the fire door with the greatest possible dispatch.

For this purpose the blast feed and distributing mechanism is mounted together on the single casting 10 pivoted at 9 on the foundation plate 5, as hereinafter described, and pivoted at 53 onthe blast feed and dis tributing mechanism 10 with a link 54: Divoted in turn at 55 to a forked link 56, which in turn is pivoted at 57 in a bearing block 58 carried by the foundation plate 5. The left hand trunnion 59 of the forked link 56, as viewed in Fig. 2, is elongated and provided with a key-way 60 for the reception of any suitable form ofoperating lever,

whereby through the toggle connection formed by the links 56 and 54 the blast feed head may be withdrawn from the fire door opening and turned down out of the way under the deck of the cab, a trap door of any suitable form being provided in the cab for the reception of this head.

When therefore it is desired to clear the fire door opening of the stoker mechanism, the feed chute and distributing member 32 is first removed from the door ring 29 by disengaging the latches 32 from the ring 29 it being understood that the ring operating spindles 37 and 49 disengage automatically by means of the latch 39, the head lifted out of position by these latch handles 52 and laid to one side. The fire door ring 29 is then swung to one side on its hinges, thus removing it from its position overlying the blast feed head. The blast feed and dis tributing mechanism 10 is then drawn from the fire door opening by swinging the same on its pivot 9 by means of the links 54 and 56 and the operating handle secured to the trunnion 59 and is swung down beneath the cab deck. In order to fill the break in the ring portion 6 of the foundation plate 5, previously occupied by the blast feed head, as indicated in Fig. 8, a filler block 61, Fig. 2, is pivoted by means of its lug 62 at 63 on the arms of the foundation plate 5 beneath a side of this space, which filler block after the removal of the blast head may be swung up into position'to complete the ring portion 6 of the foundation plate around the fire door opening. The fire door ring 29 is then swung back to position around the opening and the fire door proper 64 pivoted by means of its lugs 65, 65, on the same pivot pin as the hinged lugs 30 of the fire door ring, may then be employed to close the fire door opening in the ordinary way.

From the above description it will be seen that the entire stoker mechanism may be placed in operative position or removed by a few simple operations, and in so short a time that no delay may be incurred in the running of the engine and no loss of steam pressure suffered by the time consumed in removing the stoker mechanism. It is evi dent therefore that this improved stoker mechanism is particularly well adapted for use on locomotives in fast service such as passenger or fast freight service. Furthermore, the condition ofthe fire may be observed at any time at a moments notice, and should it become necessary to hook the fire this may be done by quickly swinging out of the way only the upper portion or feed chute head of the stoker mechanism, which may be swung to and from the fire door opening in the same manner as the ordinary fire door, and as this upper section of the stoker occupies fully twothirds or more of the fire door opening it is evident that access may be had to substantially all parts of also facilitates the remo val of the blast feed head since saidapfate may be pushed in somewhat to clear the lower edge of the fire door opening as the head is swungoutward.

The conveyer mechanism used in conjunction with the stoker mechanism above described forms the subject matter of my copending application Serial N 0787 ,226, filed on the 28th day pf August, 1913, and comprises, in general, an inclined conveyer tube the tender, as described in my co-pending application aforesaid. A worm 67 in the engine hopper 67 conveys the fuel through an opening 67 through the side of said hopper to the feed worm 66 within the upright conveyer tube 66. This hopper worm 67 is operated by a suitable driving connection with the motor on the tender as described in said application, and is operated through sprocket wheel 69, chain 70, sprocket 71, and shaft 72 suitably geared to the shaft 66 of the feed screw in the feed tube 66.

By carrying the conveyer tube 66 up to one side of the fire door and at the firemans I side of the cab, it will be seen that said tube is entirely out of the way of the stoker mechanism and out of the way of the fire door when the engine is to be hand-fired.

It may sometimes happen that the cohveyer mechanism from the tender to the engine hopper may be thrown out of commission-while the conveyer mechanism from said engine hopper to the stoker mechanism and the stoker mechanism itself may be still in operative condition. In this event it may be desirable instead of doing away with the stoker altogether, to operate'through said .stokermechanism by supplying the enginehopper 67 with fuel byhand. To this end a trap door may be provided in the cab deck immediately over the engine hopper 67 through which the fireman may feed the stoker by hand shoveling; Here again the position of the-engine hop per well to one side of the cab and on the firemans Sidepermits this operation without in any way interfering with the engi-' neers operation of the engine and without disturbing the foot-way on the cab, deck immediately in front of the fire door opening. Furthermore, the positioning of the engine hopper well to one side and outside of the frame of the engine renders the same readily accessible from outside the engine whereby the driving connections thereof may be readily accessible for repair or otherwlse.

iVhile I have herein described a particular embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that the same may be altered in details and relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the'appended claims.

l/Vhat Iclaim is: v

1. In a furnace stoker, the combination with a'furnace having a fuel receiving openof a sectional stoker mechanism comprising a feed chute and distributing section, and a blast feed and distributing section 10- catedbeneath the first section, said first section being swingingly mounted to permit partial uncovering of the fuel receiving opening for inspection of the fire and hand firing when desired, said blast section being also swingingly mounted independently of the first section.

2. In a furnace stoker, the combination I tions may be independently removedto permit observation of the fire on the onehand and hand stoking on the other.

3. In a furnace stoker, the combination with a furnace having a fuel receiving opening, of a sectional stoker mechanism comprising an upper feed chute and distributing section and an independently mounted lower blast feed and spreader section to which the first section delivers the fuel, said upper section being mounted to swing laterally out of operative position to permit observation and hooking of the fire while the second section remains in operative position and'means toremove said second section from said openmg.- I

4. Ina furnace stoker, the combination with a furnace having a fuel receiving opening of asectional stoker mechanism comprising an upper feed chute and distributing section and a lowerblast feed and spreader section, said uppersection being mounted 'to swing laterally to remove the sametemporarily from the fuel receiving opening and "said second section being independently swingingly mounted to permit entire clearing of the fuel receivingopenlng.

-operativeposition,-anda lower section independently and removably secured within the lower portion of said opening.

6. In a furnace stoker, the combination with a furnace having a fuel ieceiving opening, of a conveyer mechanism leading upto one side of and terminating above said opening, and a. Stoker mechanism swingingly mounted with respect-to said opening and adtpted to be swung into and oiitof range with said conveyer mechanism and into and out of operative position with respect to said opening.

7. In avfurnacestoker, the combination with a furnace having a fuel receiving opening, of a conveyer mechanism including a conveyer tube leading up to one side of and terminating just above said opening, a stoker mechanism swingingly mounted with respect to said opening and adapted to be swung into and out of range beneath said conveyer tube and simultaneously into and out of operative position with respect to said opening.

8. In a furnace stoker, the combination with a furnace having a fuel receiving opening, of a sectional stoker mechanism com-- )risin an n) er feed section swin in l and detachably mounted with respect to said opening whereby it may be swung into. and

out ofoperative position or entirely removed from the. furnace and a lower distributing section swingingly mountedwith respect to said opening whereby it may be swung out of operative position when said upper section is removed tocompletely free said fuel receiving opening. i

9. In a furnace Stoker, the combination with a furnace having-a fuel receiving opening, of a sectional stoker mechanism comprising fan upper feed and distributing section adapted to occupy the upper portion of said opening and being mounted to swing laterally with respect thereto, and a lower blast feed and spreader section swingingly mounted with respect to said opening whereby the upper section may be temporarily swung aside to permit observation of the fire and means whereby both of said sections may be removed to permit hand firing of the furnace.-

10. In a furnace stoker, the combination with a' furnace having a fuel receiving opening, of a ring member hinged to one side of and surrounding said opening, a stoker mechanism comprising an upper section detachably secured to said ring member and adapted to be swung laterally in conjunction therewith, a lower section adapted to occupy the balance of said opening and swingingly mounted below said opening whereby said upper section may be removed from said opening and said lower section may be swungout of operative position to completely free said opening.

11. In a furnace stoker mechanism, the combination with a furnace having a fuel receiving opening, of sectional stoker mechanism comprising a feeding and distributing head hinged adjacent said opening and adapted to occupy a part of said opening, said head having oscillating feed distributing means mounted therein, operating mechanism for said wings, means for detaching said wings from said operating mechanism whereby said head may be swung into or free of said opening, and a second stoker section carrying a blast feed and distributing plate and means for swinging said second section free of or into said opening below said first section whereby said furnace may be fed by said stoker or by hand.

12. In a locomotive stoker, the combination with a fire box having a fire door opening, of a removable stoker head mounted in said opening, a fuel hopper mounted beneath the deck of the cab and to one side thereof,a feed chute extending from said hopper upwardlyat one side of said fire door opening adapted to convey fuel to said stoker head, means for supplying fuel to said'hopper from the locomotive tender, a hatch-way in the cab deck affording access to said engine hopper whereby said hopper may be supplied with fuel automatically from the tender or by hand shoveling.

13. In a locomotive stokeig; the combination with a fire box having a fire door opening, of a removable stoker head mounted in said opening, means for swinging said stoker head into and out of operative position with respect to said opening. a fuel hopper located beneath the cab deck and at one side thereof, a conveyer tube leading from said hopper to said stoker head, conveyer means in said tube, means for supplying fuel from the tender to said hopper and a hatch-way in the cab deck affording access to said hop- 3 per whereby said stoker may be automati- 'ing, sectional stoker mechanism mounted in said opening, means for automatically feeding fuel to said Stoker, said stoker comprismg an upper feed and distributing head hinged adjacent said opening and a blast feed and distributing plate section also hinged adjacent said opening whereby said upper section may be swung into and out of said opening independently of the second section, and a hatchway in the cab deck whereby said lower stoker section may be swung out of said opening and down beneath the cab deck.

15. In a locomotive stoker, the combination with the fire box having a fire door opening, of a sectional stoker comprising an upper feed chute and distributing head hinged adjacent said opening and having means for entirely detaching said head from the fire box, a blast feed and distributing plate stokcr section located below said first section and hinged to swing vertically into and out of said opening; a hatch-way in the cab deck whereby said lower stoker section may be swung down out of the way beneath said deck.

16. In a locomotive Stoker, the combination with a fire box having a fire door opening, of a sectional stokerhead mounted within said opening and'comprising an up-. per feed and distributing section adapted to be swung into and free of said opening and to be entirely removed from the fire box, a blast feed and distributing plate Stoker section located beneath said upper sectionin said opening and means for removing the\ lower section. from said opening and sinking said section below the cab deck.

17. In a locomotive stoker mechanism, the

combination with a fire box having afire door opening, of a foundation plate .secured to said fire box and comprising a ring portion surrounding said opening and a depending portion extending below said open ing, a ring member hinged to said foundaing, a sectional s'toker head comprising an upper section detachably carried by said ring member and a lower section hinged to the depending portion ofsaid foundation plate, said ring member being-adapted to lock said lower section in operative position, said ring member and said upper stoker 'sec- ,tionbeing adapted to be swung free of said opening lndependently of said lower section and said upper and lower stoker section being adapted to be freed from said opening; and afire door hinged on said foundation plate and adapted to close said opening when the stoker mechanism. is removed therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I the said WVILLIAM T. HANNA have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM T. HANNA.

Winesses': MARTHA A. HANNA, CLYDE P. JOHNSON 

